​Throw everything you thought you knew about Peter Pan out the window. This installment of the classic book and movie, retells the tale. I’m giving Pan a B+.

​Pan tells the story behind the boy who becomes the leader of a rag tag group of boys living in Neverland. Peter is left at an orphanage by his mother and then is kidnapped by sky pirates and taken to Neverland. Once in Neverland, Peter is put to work in the mines, toiling daily for pixie dust. Blackbeard, the pirate, needs the dust to extend his life. Peter befriends a man named James Hook (yep, Captain Hook) as the two set off to find Peter’s mother.

​The cinematography is amazing. Images appear to be a blend of cartoonish and realistic. Bright colors and unique animals abound. One of my favorite images was the use of a burst of bright color when one of Tiger Lily’s tribe dies.

​While this tale doesn’t follow the original storyline, there are many nods to the story we’ve come to know and love. Captain Hook is a schemer but also a flirt and while Tiger Lily is a Caucasian girl rather than Native American, her tribe is a mixture of a variety of ethnicities.

​The fun action and exciting storyline make this a perfect movie for the whole family. Children will love the sword fights and pirate ship battles. Adults will understand the nods towards the original storyline as well as the twist on James Hook’s character. Who knew he wasn’t always a bad guy!

​But if you are going in expecting this story to remain true to the original, you will be sorely disappointed. Leave your preconceived notions at the door and enjoy a family friendly movie!